Tray forming machine



May 20, 1958 J. F. cAsTNER TRAY FORMING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 lIll.

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TRAY FORMING MACHINE Filed Oct. 25, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 i I 34 7 30 @5 HUI Ilm

May 20, 1958 J. F. cAsTNER 2,835,174

y TRAY FORMING MACHINE Filed oct. 25, 1955 e snets-sheet 4 5 l". I| 4 l. j Il i /Z l g kj I @10i I May 20, 1958 J. F. cAsTNER TRAY FORMING MACHINE' 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 25, 1955 fizzle/ZET.' Janzwnez May 20, 1958 J. F. cAsTNER 2,835,174

l TRAY FORMING MACHINE Filed OC.. 25, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 United States Patent O TRAY FORMING MACHINE p John F. Castner, Cicero, Ill., assignor to United Biscuit Company of America, a corporation of Delaware Application October 25, 1955, Serial No. 542,696

Claims. (Cl. 93-37) This invention relates to a machine or apparatus for converting a pre-cut and scored blank into a set-up tray. The tray to be set up by the apparatus herein described is of the character shown in Watson et al., Patent 2,584,967, February 5, 1952, but the apparatus may also be adapted for setting up other types of trays.

The main objects of the present invention are to provide an apparatus for the purpose indicated, which is especially suitable for use by those who require a relatively small number of trays to be set up from time to time; to provide such a machine which may be economically manufactured and sold at a low price so that it is economically feasible for a user of small numbers of trays to purchase and use the machine; to provide a machine of the character indicated, which may easily and quickly be changed to form trays or the like of various sizes and styles; and, in general, it is the object of the present invention to provide a simple, low cost tray forming machine of the character indicated which may be manually operated. t

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be understood by reference to the following specification and accompanying drawings (6 Sheets) in which there is illustrated a machine of the character above referred to and one example of a tray which may be `formed by the machine.

in the drawings,

Figs. l and 2 are respectively plan and side elevations of a machine;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the left-hand end of Figs. l and 2;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal cross section on the lines 4&4 of Figs. l and 3;

Figs. 5 and 6 are sections similar to Fig. 4 but respectively showing changed positions of certain parts of the machine;

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a blank which the illustrated machine is operative to form into a tray;

Fig. 9 is a section on the line 9 9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. l0 is a perspective illustration of the tray formed by the machine from the blank shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. ll is a fragmentary plan section on the line 11--11 ot' Fig. 5

Fig. l2 is a plan section similar to Fig. l1 but showing a changed position of certain parts of the mechanism;

Fig. 13 is a section on the line 13-13 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary section corresponding to a portion of Fig. l2 but showing a changed position of the parts; and

Figs. l5, i6 and 17 are perspective illustrations of principal parts of the mechanism which are easily replaceable for adapting the machine to the setting up of trays or the like of other sizes and styles.

The tray which is set up by the apparatus as illustrated comprises, as shown in Fig. 10, bottom forming elements or ledges 1 which are disposed in a common plane, up-

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wardly extending side wall or longitudinal partition forming portions Z and 3 at opposite sides of said bottom forming sections, said side wall elements 2 and 3 being respectively connected along their upper edges by continuously extending upper side wall portions 2a and 3a, and a plurality of transverse partitions 4 which are folded upwardly about integral hinge connections 5 with the respective bottom ledges 1. As shown, the transverse partitions 4 divide the space intermediate the side Wall elements 2 and 3 into separated cells and said transverse partitions 4 extend outwardly beyond said side wall elements 2 and 3 to form cells outwardly of said side wall elements. This tray may be used in a bag, box or other enclosure to hold articles or groups of articles separated from each other.

The blank from which the tray shown in Fig. 10 is formed-is a flat paper board blank of suitable Weight, the same being cut and scored as shown in Fig. 8. The continuous solid lines designated 6 in Fig. 8, represent cuts or slits which extend completely or substantially completely through the thickness of the blank. The broken lines indicated at 5a, represent suitably formed cut scores, creases, or similar hinge lines which become the hinge connections 5 between the transverse partition panels 4 and the bottom ledge portions 1 of the blank. The longitudinally extending side wall elements 2 and 3 are foldably connected to the ends of the bottom ledges i partially by means of creased folding lines indicated at 7, and partially by perforated, weaker fold line portions 8 which are desirable in order that folding of relatively small triangular point-like portions 9 may readily be affected as an incident to folding of the side wall elements 2 and 3 relative to the bottom ledge portions 1.

The transverse partition panels 4 are slitted as indicated at 10, to receive lower marginal portions of the upper side wall elements 2a and 3a, flared entrances to said slits being provided as shown in Fig. l0 by the slitting which provides the above mentioned triangular portions 9.

The apparatus comprises a suitably formed sheet metal housing, the parts of which may be welded or otherwise suitably secured together in the desired relationship. One end, which may be considered the front end, consists of a sheet metal member 11 (see Fig. 4) which has a vertical wall, an inturned top flange 12, and an inturned bottom ilange 13, these flanges having suitable free edge stiffening formations as shown. The bottom ange 13 has a pair of buttons 14 of rubber or other suitable material secured thereto for supporting the machine on a work table or the like.

Opposite to the front member 11, there is a back member 15 which comprises a bottom plate 15a, an upwardly extending rear flange 16, and an upwardly extending inner or front flange 17. Buttons 14a of rubber or other suitable material are secured to the bottom plate 15a for co-operating with the front buttons or feet for supporting themaChine. The front and back members 11 and 15 are rigidly united through the agency of side members 18 and 19 (Fig. 7), said side members 18 and 19 having inturned bottom flanges 20 which underlie and are spot-welded to the bottom portions 13 and 15a respectively of the front and back members. Said side members also have' inturned front end flanges 21 which overlap marginal end portions of the front wall 11 and are spot-welded or otherwise suitably secured thereto so as to form a rigid structure. At the rear of the machine, the side members 18 and 19 are provided with brackets 22 which serve to extend the height of said. side members, said brackets being suitably formed of sheet metal and rigidly secured to the respective side members. Said brackets 22 have inturned flanges 22a (Figs. l and 3) to ass 5,174

whicharesecured .endportions of the rear wall llo of the rear member l5.

A suitable female die structure indicated in its entirety byathe reference numeral 23,' is detachably secured against atback structure. Said back structure comprises a top member 24 (Figs. 3 and 4) of angle cross section, said top member` extending across the top portion of the machine and being secured at its ends to the rear flanges 22a: of said brackets 22. Said back structure also comprises liller plates 24a which are seated on and secured to saidbracket anges 22a to provide a rear face coplanarwithrthe rear face of the vertical tlange of said member 24, angle brackets 2S which have vertical flanges secured to said bracket flanges 25a and horizontal flanges seatedV on'and secured to the horizontal flange 26 of a lower back member 27 whichhas its ends fastened to said'bracket lilanges 22a.

` The die structure 23 is detachably secured in place by suitbale means such as over the center action clamps 2S y which areanchored to the respective side brackets 22 and have hook portions which engage in suitable openings or recesses 29 provided in the end walls of the die structure. 'The die'structure is accurately positioned intermediate the inner edges of the back members and 25 (Fig. 3) and intermediate the inner edges of the filler plates '24a by having the front portion of the die structure provided with a front projecting portion 3@ which snugly ts inthe opening defined by said edges.

Blanks of the character shown in Fig. 8 to be formed into a tray` or the like, are initially manually positioned onef byoneV in front of the die structure 23 on a ledge forming portion 3l of the die structure and intermediate end' guides 32 of the die structure. (See Figs. 4 and l5.) Suitable guides indicated at 33 (Figs. 4 and 7) may be provided forassisting the introduction of the tray blanks intoproper place relative to the die. These guide members 33 may be detachably and adjustably secured to the upperend'portions of the bracket flanges 22a and to a rear cross member 34 of angular cross section which is seated on the upper rear member 24 so that the Vertical flange of' said member 34 provides av ller between the flanges 22a thereby affording a smooth plane sur face yon which'to mount said guide members 35.

When lthe blank is inserted it may assume a position against the'face'of the die but it will often tilt to the pos'tionindicated in broken lines'at B in Fig. 4, the blank resting onthe ledge 3l between the end guides 32 and against a portion of the apparatuswhich is subsequently moved toperform what is called a blank breakingoperation.

This mechanism for blank breaking comprises a readily removable and replaceable unit illustrated in Fig. 16. Said unit embodies a rigid rectangular frame formed from a pair of angle members 35 and 36 which have their end portions rigidly interconnected by end straps 37. Intermediate the end straps 37, there are provided a series of channel shaped or other suitably formed breaker bar elements 38 which are provided with end flanges 39 which are spot-welded or otherwise suitably secured to the angle members 35 and 36 so as to maintain said members 38 in fixed spaced relationship.

The unitary structure representedA in Fig. 16, is detachably mounted on a pivoted carrier which comprises a pair of end arms 40 (Figs. 4 and 7) which are pivotally mounted at their lower ends on a cross shaft 4l which is carried by the base or housing of the machine. These arms 40 are rigidly interconnected by means of a channelshaped cross member 42 and the upper ends of said arms have securedk thereto, lengths of angle shaped members 43 (see also Fig. l) which have flanges d4- spaced from ange portions 45 of the arms 40 to form slideways or guide-ways which receive the endwise extensions 35tz and 36a of the opposite ends of the upper and lower members 35 and 36 of the breakerl unit shown in Q Fig. 16. Mcvementof thebreaker unitinto theguideways may be limited by engagement of the lower edge of the breaker member 3o with the upper edge of the cross member 42. The frictional lit of said end extensions y35a and 36a in said slideways is usually su'icient to hold the breaker unit in place in the breaker carrier,

A spring 46 connected between a lower portion of the cross member 42. and a portion of the inner liange ll'i of the rear bottom member l5 serves to normally rock the pivoted arm structure to its retracted position as shown in Fig. 4 in which it is supported by suitably positioned bumpers 4'7 at opposite sides of the machine.

A manually operable slide structure is mounted on the sides lit and i9 of the machine for rearward and forward movement. Said slide member comprises a rigidly formed head element 48 which consists of a bottom plate 49, an upstanding rear plate 5u, and an upper member 5l which extends diagonally across the angle formed by the plate portions i9 and 5t), Said upper member 5l is suitably secured to said plate portions 49 and .50 and is provided with an upwardly rebent portion 52 which forms a convenient hand grip by which the slide unit may be manipulated. The slide unit has, at

, each of its ends, a depending bracket 53 rigid with the head structure and rigidly secured to an elongated slide bar 54. Said slide bar 5d is of suitable cross-sectioned shape as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 7 for cooperation with supports in which the slide bars may freely move. ln this instance, the slide bars 54 are of outwardly facing channel shape formed to cooperate with suitably' formed inwardly facing channel elements 55 and ball bearings 56 to freely slidably support the head d8 on the sides of the device. The channel elements 55 are fastened to the sides 13 and T19, and the ball bearings 56 are maintained in suitably spaced relation by a retainer 57'. The upper and lower flanges of said slide bar 54 and guide channel 55 are suitably formed as shown to provide trackways in which said ball bearings roll to permit free reciprocation of said head 4S.

The slide head structure is provided with a depending arm or bracket 5d which is rigidly fastened to said head structure, and a rearwardly extending elongated pawl bar 59 is pivoted as indicated at 60 to the lower end of said arm. The rear end of said pawl bar 59 is provided with a reduced width portion 61 and a rearwardly facing shoulder 62. The pawl bar 59 extends through openings indicated at 63 in the channel member 42 and in the adjacent wall of a bracket 64 which is attached to said channel member 42 near one side of the machine as shown in Fig. 7l

v When the slide member is in its retracted position as shown in Fig. 4, the shoulder 62 of the pawl bar is in position to abut a suitable wear-resisting plate element @35 which is secured to the back wall of said bracket 64 adjacent the bottom ofthe opening 63 therein. When ythe slide structure is moved rearwardly from the position shown in Fig. 4, but little movement thereof occurs be fore said shoulder 62 engages said plate 65 whereupon continued rearward movement of the slide structure will impart rocking movement to the rock arm structure comprising the arms 40 and the connecting channel 42. Such rocking movement will be continued until the blank B is rocked into face to face engagement (as shown in full lines in Fig. 4) with the front end of the die structure 23 and until the breaker elements 38 will have engaged and pressed the transverse partition elements 4 of the blank rearwardly from the plane of the blank as shown in Fig. 5.

The bracket 64 is provided with an upwardly facing edge portion 66 which cornes into engagement With the lower edge of the pawl bar 59 at about the time that the pre-breaking operation on the blank is completed (i. e. substantially as represented by the position of the parts shown in Fig. 5) whereby the pawl bar 59 is rockedfupwardly about its pivot 60 so as to disengage its shoulder 62 from the abutment plate 65 and permit continued movement of the pawl bar S9 through the openings 63 without further effect on the breaker-carrying structure. The coil spring 46 effects retraction of the breaker-carrying structure to its starting position a-s represented in Fig. 4.

The upwardly extending wall portion 50 of the slide head 48 has detachably mounted on it, a series of elongated plungers 67. These plungers 67 may be in the form of channel shaped sheet metal members as shown in Fig. 17, and they are rigidly secured as by welding to a header 68 which may also be in the form of a channel `shaped element which embraces the adjacent ends of the plungers. Said header 68 is secured to a head plate member 69, all of the parts of the structure illustrated in Fig. 17 being suitably rigidly united in xed relation as by welding or otherwise.

The plunger unit of the structure illustrated in Fig. 17 is detachably mounted on the front wall 50 of the Slide by providing the latter with suitable guide-ways or recesses for receiving end portions of the plunger plate member 69. In this instance, such guide-ways or slot formations are provided at each end of the slide structure (see Fig. l) by means of narrow ller or spacer plates 70 and wider plates 71 which project toward each other beyond the respective spacers 70 to form guide-way slots or recesses which receive end portions of the plunger plate 69. The spacer plates 70 are of a thickness which approximates that of the plate 69 although being preferably slightly thinner so that the wider plates 71 may be pulled by screws 72 toward the wall 50 to clamp the plunger head plate 69 tightly against the slide wall 50.

The plungers 67 move in unison with the slide structure 48 and they are of such length that at about the time that the initial blank breaking operation is completed, the free ends 73 of the plungers will engage the bottom ledge portions l1 of the tray blank and thereby push the blank into and through the die structure 23.

Details of the die structure are not `a part of the present invention. The die is, of course, suitably formed to perform the desired folding operations on the blank when the blank is pushed through the die by means of the plunger elements 67 which also are made to suit the requirements of the particular blank being formed into a tray or the like. In this instance, the die structure 23 includes a series of pairs of upper and lower folding elements represented at 74, on opposite sides of the path of movement of the blank, these folding elements being operative to fold the side wall portions 2 and 3 and their respective upper marginal elements 2a and 3a into right angular relationship to the bottom wall portions 1 of the tray. This folding action is indicated in Fig. 13.

The die structure also includes a series of pairs of upper and lower folding elements 75 which act against the end portions 4a and 4b of the transverse partition panels 4 to fold the same about their fold lines 5a into right angular relationship to the bottom ledges 1 as shown in Fig. 14. The die elements 74 and 75 are so positioned that folding of the transverse partition elements 4 is started somewhat prior to the time that the side elements 2 and 3 reach their right angular relationship to the bottorn ledges l but not before the time that the upper marginal portions 2a and 3a are near enough to their final positions to avoid interference with the folding of the transverse panels and to permit the slits therein to receive said upper portions 2a and 3a of the longitudinal walls.

Continuation of the rearward movement of the slide structure and its plungers 67 result in movement of the tray blank completely through the die structure and complete setting up of the tray as indicated in Fig. 6. The slide structure is then retracted and the tray is stripped olf` the plunger ends by engagement with the rear face of the die structure. Normal resiliency of the material of which the tray is made, insures slight springing of parts of the tray from the theoretical nished condition illustrated in Fig. 6 so that the tray will not re-enter and pass forwardly through the die. The trays stripped from the plungers may be collected in any suitable receptacle or otherwise handled. Suitable stops indicated at 76 are provided 011 the stationary frame or housing structure for engagement by the forward ends of the brackets 53 to limit forward or retracting movement of the slide structure. l

The pre-breaking of the blank, that is to say initial breaking of the cut score lines 6 and folding scores 5a which define the transverse partitions 4 is shown in Fig.

11 in addition to Fig. 5. It will be observed that in the pre-breaking operation, the transverse partition elements are folded about their hinged connections 5a with the respective bottom ledges 1 in the direction opposite to that in which said transverse partitions are folded to right angular tray forming position relative to said bottom ledges. l t

This pre-breaking operation insures complete or full breaking of the cut score lines 6 which, in the blank, may not extend completely through the blank throughout the entire length of each cut score line, 'but may be incompletely cut through the blank so as to leave at least slight, easily breakable bond along said lines to maintain the blank in tlatform during storage and handling thereof prior to its conversion into a tray. As indicated in Fig. 1l, corners of the breaker elements 38`engage the end portions 4a and 4b of the blank so as to fully displace said end portions from the plane of the blank, thereby insuring complete breakage of any bonds remaining in the cut score lines. This complete displacement -of the end portions also insures the application of sufficient force to bend the central portions of the transverse partitions out of the plane of the blank as cle-arly shown in Fi-g. 11. t

As shown in Fig. l2, the breakers 38 have 'been retracted andthe plungers 67 have taken over the movement of the blank into and through the die structure 23. As there shown, the transverse partiti-on elements 4 are being folded toward their required perpendicular relationship to their-bottom ledges 1 ofthe blank, the plungers 67 being in engagement with said bottom ledges t0 `thereby effect movement of the blank through the die.

Fig. 14 illustrates a position of the plungers 67 intermediate the lengths of their paths of travel While moving rearwardly through the die in a tray forming operation. The transverse partitions 4 are, at tha-t point, fully folded as are also the side wall elements 2 and 3, so that the work of folding the blank is substantially complete and the set-up tray is about to be ejected from the die structure. p To insure initial positioning ofthe blank B with its bottom edge resting on the die ledge 31 as shown in F-ig. 4, the front of the die is preferably provided with an upwardly extending flange plate 77 (Figs. 4 and 15) and with a pair of outwardlyV or forwardly arched guide lingers 78. These guide fingers 7,8 are so positioned that they are located intermediate certain of the breaker members 38 as best shown in Fig. l, so that they do not interfere with the operation of the latter. Said guide fingers 78 are below the path of travel of the plungers 67 so that the latter may freely move into and out of the die structure as explained.

It will be appreciated that the die structure, the plunger structure and the breaker `structure may readily 'be -replaced with others to set up trays of other sizes and other4 forms. This exibility in a machine of the simple character described, makes the machine very desirable for those who use only small quantities of trays and for whom the purchase of automatic equipment capable of the pro-` duction of large numbers of set-up trays would Ibe an ex-,

pense which isjnot justified by the volumeof `trays requiredper'day` or other unit of time. Also, the .practicability of ownership .and use of a small manually operated machine of the type 'described makes it commercially feasible for the user of small Vquantties `of trays to set up the trays in the numbers required from -time to time rather than having a box manufacturer set-up and deliver to vthe user for storage, large numbers o-f trays from which daily or other periodic requirements may be drawn.

Various other benefits'an'd advantages ofthe described device and various possible changes in the structure thereof will be understood by those skilled in the art.

"I claim:

'1. A machine for setting up trays from pre-cut and scored blanks, comprising a normally stationary die, a member mounted for movement toward and from said die, a plunger carried by said member and movable thereby from aA starting position yclear of said die into the same to cooperate therewith to effect folding of a blank as aforesaid into a tray, a breaker having means for engaging the portion of a tray blank and `adapted to cooperate with said die to preliminarily break predetermined scores inthe blank to facilitate the folding thereof along such scores by said plunger and die, and means for actuating said breaker as an incident t-o the movement of said member and plunger toward' said die.

2. A'machine for setting up trays from pre-cut and scored blanks, comprising a normally station-ary die, a member mounted for reciprocating movement toward and fromsaid die in a direction normal to the die, a plunger carried by said member and movable thereby from a starting position clear of said die into the same to cooperate tnerewith'to effect folding of a `blank as aforesaid into'a tray, a pivot'ally mounted breaker having means for engaging aportion of the tray blank and adapted to cooperate with said `die yto preliminarily break predeterminedl scores in the blank to facilitate the folding thereof along such scores vby said plunger Iand die, and means for actuating said breaker as an incident to the move- |mentrof said member and plunger toward said die.

3. A rmachine for setting up trays from pre-cut and scored blanks, comprising a 'normally stationary die, a slide structurev mounted for movement toward and from said die, a plunger mounted on said slide structure and movabletherewith from a starting position clear of said die into Iand through the same and then back to starting position, a `breaker structure having means for engaging 'a portion of a tray blank to cooperate with said die to preliminarily break predetermined scores in the blank, means connected to said slide for movement therewith yand having Ia d-isengageable connection to said breaker `structure for actuating-the latter upon movement of said slide structure toward said die, and means for effecting disengagement of said last mentioned connection after predetermined movement of said slide structure so as to permit the latter to'conltinue said predetermined movement independently of said breaker structure.

'4. A machine for setting up trays from pre-cut and scored blanks, comprising a normally stationary'y die, a slide structure mounted for sliding movement toward and from said die, a plungerV mounted on said slide structure and'movable therewith from a starting position clearof said die into and through the same and then back to starting position, a pivotally mounted breaker structure having means for engaging a portion of a tray blank to cooperate wtih said die to preliminarily break predetermined scores in the blank, a pawl arm pivotally connected toa portion of said slide structure and having a free end provided with an abutment shoulder, said breaker structure being provided with an abutment adapted to be engaged by the shoulder on said pawl and with means operative as an incident to the rocking movement of said breaker'structureV to elfect disengagement of the shoulder of said pawll arm from said abutment-shoulder, whereby said breaker structurel is actuated'during anl initial portion off-the'movement of said slide structure toward said die fi and theoperating connection between said slide structure and 'breaker is ,disengaged to jperrnit continuation of the movement of said slide structure toward said die independently of said breaker structure, whereby said plunger is movable through said die after completion of the operation of said breaker structure.

5. A machine for setting up trays from pre-cut and scored blanks, comprising a normally stationary supporting housing, a die detachably mounted on said housing, a slide structure slidably mounted on said housing for movement toward and from said die, a plunger detachably mounted on said slide structure for movement therewith from a starting position clear of said die into and through the same, said plunger and slide structure being then retractable to starting position, a breaker carrier pivotally mounted on said housing for rocking movement toward and from said die, a breaker detachably mounted on said carrier for movement therewith toward and from the die for cooperation with the latter to preliminarily break predetermined scores in a blank, and means for actuating said breaker carrier as an incident to an initial portion of the movement of said slide structure toward said die.

6. A machine for setting up trays from pre-cut and scoredblanks, comprising a normally stationary die, a movable breaker structure having means for engaging a portion of a tray blank to cooperate with said die to preliminarily fold said predetermined portion of the blank in one direction from the plane of the blank to thereby break or soften the fold line on which said portion of the blank is to be folded, and a plunger mounted for movement from a starting position clear of said die into the same and for retraction therefrom to starting position, said plunger being arranged to engage a portion of the blank to move the same into said die and the latter having a folding element arranged to engage said predetermined portion ofthe blank as an incident to movement of the blank into said die to thereby fold said portion in the opposite direction to that in which said breaking was effected.

7. A machine for setting up trays from pre-cut .and scored blanks, comprising a normally stationary, sheet metal supporting housing having front, back and side walls, a die detachably mounted on the outside of the back wall of said housing, a slide structure horizontally slidably mounted on the side walls of said housing for movement toward and from said die, a plunger carried by said slide structure and movable therewith from a starting position clear of said die, into and through the same, said plunger and slide structure being then retractable to starting position, a breaker carrier movably mounted on said housing intermediate the front and back walls thereof for movement toward and from said die, a breaker mounted on said carrier for movementV therewith toward and from said die for cooperation therewith to preliminarily break predetermined scores in a blank, vand means for actuating said breaker carrier as an incident to the movement of said plunger carrying structure toward said die, said means comprising an operating connection between said slide structure and said breaker carrier which is yieldable upon completion of a predetermined portion of the movement required of said slide structure for tray forming purposes.

8. A machine for setting up trays from pre-cut and scored blanks, comprising a normally stationary, sheet metal supporting housing having front, back and side walls, a die `detachably mounted on the outside of the back wall of said housing, a slide structure horizontally slidably mounted on the side walls of said housing for movement toward and from said die, a set of plungers carried by said slide structure and movable therewith from a starting position clear of said die, into and through the same, said set of plungers and said `slide structure being then retractable to starting positiomsaid set of plungers comprising a plurality of elongated, transversely spaced, parallel members and a head plate to which said plungers are rigidly secured, said slide structure being provided with slot-forming means for slidably receiving end portions of said head plate to detachably mount said set of plungers on said slide strtcture, a breaker carrier movably mounted on said housing intermediate the front and back walls thereof for movement toward and from said die, a breaker mounted on said carrier for movement therewith toward and from said die for cooperation therewith to preliminarily break predetermined scores in a blank, said breaker embodying a rigid frame and a plurality of breaker bars secured to said frame so as to project therefrom, said breaker carrier being provided with slot-forming means adapted to slidably receive end portions of said frame to detachably mount said breaker on said carrier, and means for actuating said breaker carrier as an incident to the movement of said plunger carrying structure toward said die, said means comprising an operating connection between said slide structure and said breaker carrier which is yieldable upon completion of a predetermined portion of the movement required of said slide structure for tray forming purposes.

9. A machine for folding blanks each of which is provided With a folding core to define a wall portion which is adapted to be folded to projecting relationship to a panel of the blank and with a folding score and an associated slit which defines a partition which is displaceable from the blank along said slit and foldable along said score to projecting relationship to said panel, the machine comprising a normally stationary die, a member mounted for movement toward and from said die, a plunger carried by said member and movable thereby from a position clear of said die into the same to force a blank as aforesaid linto the die, in cooperation with said die, to effect folding of said wall portion and displacement and folding of said partition from said panel of the tray in the direction opposite to the direction in which the blank is forced into said die, and a breaker structure movable toward said die preliminary to the movement of said plunger into the die to cooperate therewith to preliminarily displace said partition in the direction in which the blank is forceo into said die, thereby to preliminarily break said slit and soften the associated score to facilitatel said folding of said partition to projecting position as aforesaid.

10. A machine for folding blanks each of which is provided with a folding score to define a wall portion which is adapted to be folded to projecting relationship to a panel of the blank and with a folding score and an associated slit which defines a partition which is displaceable from the blank along said slit and foldable along said score to projecting relationship to said panel, the machine comprising a'normally stationary die, a manually operable member mounted for movement toward and from said die, a plunger carried by said member and movable thereby from a position clear of said die into the same to force a blank as aforesaid into the die and, in cooperation with said die, to effect folding of said wall portion and displacement and folding of said partition from said panel of the tray in the direction opposite to the direction in which the blank is forced into said die, a breaker structure movable toward said die preliminary to the movement of said. plunger into the die to cooperate therewith to preliminarily displace said partition in the direction in which the blank is forced into said die, thereby to preliminarily break said slit and soften the associated score to facilitate said folding of said partition to projecting position as aforesaid, and means interconnecting said breaker structure and said manually operable member for eecting operation of said breaker as an incident to the operation of said manually operable member and plunger, said interconnecting means embodying yieldable means to permit operation of said breaker during only an initial portion of the operating movement of said member and plunger and continued operating movement of said member and plunger after completion of the operation of said breaker.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,132,859 Mednick et al Oct. 11, 1938 2,655,082 Amyx et al Oct. 13, 1953 2,669,914 Swaine Feb. 23, 1954 2,737,861 Watson Mar. 13, 1956 

